Mexico probes Wal-Mart bribery claims

Mexico said Wednesday it has opened a probe into the operating procedures of Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, after allegations that its managers bribed officials.The New York Times reported Saturday that the retail giant's largest non-US subsidiary made illicit payments to win market dominance and tried to cover them up."A check has started into the federal permits and procedures taken by this company (Wal-Mart de Mexico or Walmex) to open and operate its shops in our country," the Ministry of Public Service (SFP) said in a statement.

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Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s biggest retailer, said it’s investigating how it got a license for a store in Mexico as the New York Times reported its local unit bribed an official to change a zoning map.

(Reuters) - A Mexican state governor implicated in a bribery scandal involving Wal-Mart Stores Inc sued a former lawyer-turned-whistleblower for the company and sought an apology for naming him in connection with the scandal. The lawsuit adds another layer of intrigue around a scandal that has dogged the company and its Mexican affiliate, Walmex . On Wednesday, Walmex released a statement saying it had made no allegations involving illicit acts by public officials in Mexico. ...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc's Mexican affiliate routinely used bribes to open stores in desirable locations, according to a New York Times investigation published Monday, which cites 19 instances of the retail giant paying off local officials. The Times first reported in April that Wal-Mart had intentionally stifled an internal probe into bribery at its Mexican affiliate Walmex . Late last month, Mexico's anti-corruption body said it found no irregularities in the permits Wal-Mart received in the country, but that two audits remain underway. ...

By Brad Prigmore:Shares of the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart (WMT), slid nearly 5% Monday following fulminant weekend allegations that the company violated the Foreign Corruption Practices Act in Mexico. This law, passed in 1977, prohibits the use of monetary compensation to foreign officials for business purposes.